Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Another Story is… well, another story set in the Magia Record continuity. Our main character for this particular manga is Mami Tomoe. Magica Quartet came up with the original story, and the art is by U35.
As has been the case with the other Puella Magi Madoka Magica manga, this has been licensed for English release by Yen Press. This first volume contains chapters one through to five.
Front cover of the first volume of Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Another Story, featuring Mami Tomoe
With fewer witches cropping up in Mitakihara and the surrounding area, many magical girls are embracing the chance to enjoy a break from the hunt – but not Mami Tomoe! Mami wants to know why witch numbers are declining in every city save one. In Kamihama City, the witch population is greater and stronger than ever, not to mention there’s a mysterious magical presence unlike anything Mami has encountered before…!
Perhaps a more fitting title for this would be “The Same Story but from Mami’s Point of View”, but that just doesn’t flow off the tongue so well. At least from these first five chapters, it seems that we are being retold the events of Magia Record but with a different protagonist. In this case, Mami – which means we get to see more of her interactions with other magical girls. She gets some particularly nice stuff with Kyouko.
This first volume shows us the beginning of Mami’s investigation into the disappearing witch numbers, and her arrival in Kamihama City. From that point, she discovers things that are completely unlike the witches she is familiar with.
Knowing the story of Magia Record does mean that I’m completely aware of what it is that Mami faces, but as of this first volume, it’s a mystery to her. At least she gets to show off as one of the most veteran magical girls of the entire cast, even if she might have some misconceptions about the opponents she is facing.
I don’t know whether it’s because Another Story is presenting things from Mami’s point of view or whatever, but I do feel like it has been drawn me into Magia Record‘s story quicker than Magia Record itself. Probably helps that it gets to those important events a bit quicker, since it doesn’t have to faff around establishing Iroha and her motivations.
Whether this will follow exactly the same story as Magia Record or not I couldn’t tell you at the moment, but it will certainly be interesting to see Mami’s thoughts and feelings on various events that come up if it does.
Not a bad start for Another Story. It’s a decent enough read, and I imagine Mami fans in particular will be more than happy with what they get here.
Rory Muses 